diff --git a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_api_gateway_deployment.go b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_api_gateway_deployment.go
index ca8aecafa..4089999a9 100644
--- a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_api_gateway_deployment.go
+++ b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_api_gateway_deployment.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func resourceAwsApiGatewayDeployment() *schema.Resource {
 
 			"stage_name": &schema.Schema{
 				Type:     schema.TypeString,
-				Optional: true,
+				Required: true,
 				ForceNew: true,
 			},
 
diff --git a/website/source/docs/providers/aws/r/api_gateway_deployment.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/providers/aws/r/api_gateway_deployment.html.markdown
index 650d50548..5be552d83 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/providers/aws/r/api_gateway_deployment.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/providers/aws/r/api_gateway_deployment.html.markdown
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ resource "aws_api_gateway_deployment" "MyDemoDeployment" {
 The following arguments are supported:
 
 * `rest_api_id` - (Required) The ID of the associated REST API
-* `stage_name` - (Optional) The name of the stage
+* `stage_name` - (Required) The name of the stage
 * `description` - (Optional) The description of the deployment
 * `stage_description` - (Optional) The description of the stage
 * `variables` - (Optional) A map that defines variables for the stage